Newsom Appoints Pannell-Nash to Merced Superior Court
Brenda Pannell-Nash, a longtime Los Angeles County sole practitioner, fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Carol K. Ash.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Brenda Pannell-Nash as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Carol K. Ash.
Why it matters
The appointment fills an open seat on the Merced County Superior Court, filling a judicial position left vacant by a retirement. Judicial appointments by the governor shape the composition of trial courts across California.
Pannell-Nash has practiced law for roughly three decades, beginning as an associate in 1996 and operating as a sole practitioner since 2009. Her legal career spans three firms before she established her own practice.
The players
Brenda Pannell-Nash
Brenda Pannell-Nash is a Los Angeles County attorney who has practiced law since 1996 and now serves as a judge in Merced County.
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California, who makes judicial appointments to the state's trial courts.
The details
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Brenda Pannell-Nash, who is of Los Angeles County, to the Merced County Superior Court. Pannell-Nash holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland King Carey School of Law and is registered without party preference.
Timeline
1996 to 1999: Pannell-Nash worked as an associate at Chapin, Fleming, McNitt, Shea & Carter.
1999 to 2000: She worked as an associate at the Law Office of Charles T. Mathews.
2000 to 2009: She worked as an associate at Harold G. Becks & Associates.
2009: She began sole practice at the Law Offices of Brenda J. Pannell.
November 5, 2026: Governor Newsom announced the judicial appointment.
Market Landscape
Governor Newsom's appointment of Pannell-Nash follows the state's constitutional process of filling Superior Court vacancies through gubernatorial appointment, a power exercised whenever a sitting judge retires. The move replaces Judge Carol K. Ash, whose retirement opened the seat in Merced County.
Merced County residents appearing before the Superior Court will have a new judge presiding over matters in the court. Litigants and attorneys in the county will see the composition of the bench change following the retirement of Judge Carol K. Ash.
The takeaway
Judicial vacancies in California's trial courts are filled through gubernatorial appointment, so changes to the bench often follow retirements and reflect the governor's choices. Readers following Merced County courts can track how the new appointee's assignments and rulings develop over time.
Further reading
For more on judicial leadership across the state, explore People coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gold Rush Cam.
